Enthusiasm

I feed you

my enthusiasm 

like Turkish Delight 

it is not safe for you to eat

(it is habit forming)

it will turn other food

into ashes

in your mouth.

They have 

told you to beware,

to refuse the offerings 

of powerful unknown women

especially in forests

or rivers

or coffee shops

but resisting this first taste

is difficult. 

I don’t know how 

to stop being myself 

if it is within my gift

I am already reaching 

to offer it

thinking that I know best

is one of my qualities.

Like salt

enthusiasm will travel 

in your blood

and teach you to need it

if you want to go on feeling alive

so you see it is a perilous snack

to hand out.

I already put some

in your mocha latte

it would probably be wise

not to let me 

near the cups

but it is definitely too late

for nearly everyone 

here.